I get out of Kaylee's car the morning after our talk with Alpha Cain, Luna Camille and soon-to-be Alpha Justine and walk to the entrance of my school with confusing, mixed emotions. It was still early, and I am already anxious about the meeting with the King Alpha and my mate set up for tonight.
I walked to my locker and smile at my classmates who greet me. Acknowledging my presence as one of their classmates, not as one of their toys. My school life has gotten better when I transferred in this school.
I was accepted as one of them. Not even a day passed that I was scared of walking along the hallway, having lunch at the school canteen or rushing and bumping other students as I run to my class. I have adjusted quite easily here. I have never felt happier with my school as I am now.
With my contentment in my school life, I have slowly accepted my home life status. I don't feel as hurt now with my stepfather's disregard for my safety as I was that night when I ran from home. I have slowly accepted that I am not just that important to my stepfather as a daughter should be.
All throughout the day, my thoughts would be disturbed by thoughts of Damon and his "gang." I wondered why the Goddess had to set me as Damon Hunter's mate.
I am no Luna material. A runt. A little she-wolf with a little wolf. I had no special abilities, except for my stronger sense of smell which I have discovered since I was twelve but no one else knows. And my unusual speed in moving specially in running or walking, which might have been developed when I was being bullied and I had to do everything to avoid the bullies, led by my mate, Damon Hunter.
I wondered what good I would be as a Luna.
At least ten times that day, I imagined myself being rejected-perhaps a first in the history of werewolves, which would sadden my little wolf and ask me to stop it. Rejection for me was even better than being that bully's mate.
But my little wolf wasn't happy with that that. She wanted our mate. She was excited, happy with who our mate was. I wondered if she was masochist as she still wanted to be with our mate even though we have repeatedly been hurt by him.
Alpha Cain has instructed me to be at the pack house by seven o'clock that evening, so I asked Ms. Cherry if I could start work by four o'clock instead of six. This way, I could be paid for at least two hours and a half that day.
Six o'clock.
I sighed as a looked at the wall clock hung inside the storage area. I have volunteered to dust all the keyboards that were on display, and I brought them all in the storage. I was already doing the last one and would have been finished if I didn't keep on glancing at the clock.
My stomach was churning nervously of the upcoming meeting with my mate. I wanted to delay the meeting, fearing the outcome, but I also wanted the time to move faster, wanting the ordeal to be done with. I haven't even had lunch due to my anxiety of the upcoming meeting and I was feeling slight hunger, but I refuse to eat, fearing that I might be vomiting once I get in the pack house.
My masochist little wolf on the other hand has always been excited since I agreed to the meeting last night. Thank Goddess, she wasn't fully developed, or she would have taken control and went to meet Damon's wolf.
6:10 PM
I get a whiff of the pine and ocean breeze I smelled when I was at the Dark Midnight Pack's land and my heart lurched nervously. He must be coming here, or already passing by to go to the Dark Moon Pack for the meeting. I looked at the clocked. He's too early.
Then I smelled it again, the scent was getting stronger. I slowly closed the door to the storage, hoping it would block my scent if Damon Hunter really did come in here. I stopped working, waiting with ragged breath and trembling hands.
Does he know that I work here? Justine and Kaylee wouldn't have told him about me working here, would they?
Damon's POV
I got off school at four o'clock and finally called Justine, the future Alpha of the Dark Moon Pack to ask him about my mate's interest. All day, I have been wondering what to get my mate as a gift, which Mark laughingly called a bribe.
We have been driving around town since getting off school, looking for art materials but I wasn't satisfied with what we found. I didn't want to buy just any paper, pencil or any coloring material. I wanted to get her something unique and unforgettable.
Then my eyes caught sight of a shop, COMPWORLD. I thought of getting her a gadget she can use for her artistry. Justine said, she always liked to draw, solve puzzles or work on anything with arts.
As I enter the shop, I immediately smell her scent. It may be faint, but its presence made my heart and my wolf ecstatic. I immediately mind - link Mark. "She's here."
Mark looked at me in shock. Then looked around. We knew the lady at the counter was human. And it wasn't her.
"I'll keep her occupied." Mark immediately said, catching the attention of the woman, who seems to be the owner.
I walk quietly to a door on the side of the counter. It was closed, but it was where my mate's scent was strong. By now, my wolf was dancing excitedly, ready to jump and take control while my heart was beating rapidly of fear and excitement at the same time.
I slowly open the door. And immediately see my mate, wearing a bonnet on her head, standing behind it. My heart immediately drops to my stomach of fear and dread.
I hear my heart booming repeatedly. It's her! My Goddess! I'm going to be rejected. I almost feel like I was going to vomit, feeling hot and cold at the same time.
I stood there, looking at her. Not knowing what to do or say. And she was looking at me with fear and trepidation in her eyes. We stood looking at each other for Goddess knows how long, both not knowing what to say, both of us silently acknowledging each other as our mate.
Our silent acknowledgement of each other was disturbed by the lady's voice. "I'm sorry sir, you are not allowed in there." she was talking to me as she was punching in the cash register, Mark has purchased something. I turned to look at her and she sees my mate, standing in front of me.
"Oh, Annie. Are you done? You can go if you're done. Margaret will be here any minute now." My mate has a nickname, and I didn't know.
I see Mark look at my mate too. Shock instantly appearing on his face as he took the item, wrapped as a gift from the lady.
I see my mate swallow, clearly having difficulty in focusing on talking to her boss.
"Sorry ma'am. I thought this was the bathroom." I said apologetically.
"Bathroom's over there sir." The lady points to the bathroom located at the far end of the shop.
I nod at her then move away from the door of the storage room. I watch as my mate takes a hesitant step towards me. I opened my mouth to tell her that my beta and I would wait for her in our car when the chime at the entrance buzzes, signaling that someone came in the shop.
"Hi Ms. Cherry." says a very familiar voice. It was Justine. Obviously surprised at my presence in the shop.
Lu-ann's POV
I sat quietly beside Justine on the ride to the pack house. Thankful that Kaylee sent him to pick me up. They must have thought I would try to avoid the meeting, so they had Justine fetch me.
I looked at Justine who glanced at me at the same time I looked at him.
"How did he find you?" Justine asked, knowing I wanted to delay the meeting and knowing I would not have divulged the place where I worked voluntarily.
I shrugged. "Must have scented me out." I said and smiled a small smile.
He nodded then looked at the road. "Don't worry Lu-ann. We will all be there with you."
I looked at him but said nothing. I took a deep breath and looked out the window. Even from here, I can smell my mate's scent. I knew he and his beta was just behind us.
He wanted me to ride with them earlier when we went out of the shop where I worked but Justine, to my relief, asked me and let me decide who I wanted to ride with.
I'm not, or I don't think I ever will be ready to be near Damon Hunter. Never mind be his mate.